08TBILISI1602, GEORGIA: SAAKASHVILI’S STATE OF THE COUNTRY ADDRESS

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001602
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2018
TAGS: PHUMPGOVPRELRUGG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SAAKASHVILI'S STATE OF THE COUNTRY ADDRESS
REF: TBILISI 1494
Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Summary and Comment. President Saakashvili's
September 16 state of the nation included concessions to the
opposition, proposals to check executive power, and measures
to increase judicial freedom and open media. Parliamentary
opposition members said that most of the proposals were not
new to them, having been discussed earlier in the summer;
however, many withheld judgment until they could see the
details of the reforms. Public reaction to Saakashvili's
speech was positive and optimistic and many thought that it
set the appropriate tone for unity during difficult times.
The timing of the speech directly followed the departure of
NATO Ambassadors from their two day visit to Tbilisi and
Saakashvili previewed its main message of a new wave of
democratic and judicial reforms at a meeting with NATO SYG de
Hoop Scheffer and NATO Permreps the day before. The speech
is one way that Saakashvili is trying to reassure NATO and
the West that he understands that continued assistance and
support also depends on further democratic reforms.
Saakashvili is also eager to showcase democratic and judicial
progress in order to increase Georgia's chance for a NATO MAP
and eventual membership. End Summary and Comment.
Misha Promises Reform
---------------------
¶2. (C) On September 16, President Saakashvili delivered his
annual state of the nation address to Parliament in which he
announced the launch of a new wave of democratic reforms.
The speech directly followed the September 15-16 meetings of
the North Atlantic Council in Tbilisi. In fact, the
President announced the speech during his discussion with the
visiting North Atlantic Council permreps. The new reforms
will be aimed at strengthening Parliament, establishing free
and impartial media, promoting free and unbiased courts,
limiting executive powers, and protecting private property.
His remarks focused on Georgian unity, thanking NATO, the EU,
France, the countries of Eastern Europe, Germany, and
particularly the United States for standing by Georgia in its
time of need, and outlining needed reforms.
¶3. (C) Among Saakashvili's suggestions were concessions
which would strengthen the power of the opposition, limit
Presidential powers, hold a public accounting of his
decisions during the events of August, and create greater
judicial reform. He said it was important to include
opposition members in an Anti-Crisis Council, and also
proposed increasing funding for political parties (including
restoring funding for those parties not currently in the
Parliament), and televising debates to gauge public opinion.
In an attempt to curb executive powers, a
presidentially-proposed new constitutional amendment would
allow the Parliament to pass a confidence vote in the new
cabinet and limit the President's power to dissolve
Parliament. Saakashvili acknowledged that questions
regarding the events of August need to be addressed, and in
this vein, supports parliamentary debates to establish ground
truth and explain his actions. Finally, he plans to ensure
more judicial transparency, by making judges' tenure a
life-time appointment and passing the Criminal Procedure Code
which would ensure a trial by jury.
Opposition Members' Impressions
-------------------------------
¶4. (U) United National Movement members said that they
found Saakashvili's remarks positive with concrete
suggestions. Opposition member and Vice-Speaker of the
Parliament Levan Vepkhvadze said that two thirds of the
initiatives had been agreed upon already so there were no
surprises. Giorgi Tsagareishvili cited the need for amending
the law on broadcasting which will legalize free debates on
the Georgian Public Broadcasting Channel (GPB), while Giorgi
Targamadze pointed out the minuses of the speech: neither
mention of electoral code reform nor strengthening local
government. He added, however, that the Christian Democrats
would support these reforms, as long as they are fully
implemented. Targamadze stressed the importance of
independent courts. Levan Gachechalidze from the United
Opposition and Davit Usupashvili from the Republican Party
both said President Saakashvili's speech was cosmetic and
they are withholding judgment until they see if the reforms
are implemented. Both went on to say that these changes have
been promised in the past, but were never brought to
fruition. The Christian Democrats and the Republican party
stressed the need for strengthening the independence and
freedom of the press. Nino Burdjanadze said she felt the
TBILISI 00001602 002 OF 002
speech was quite good and addressed the issues most needing
reform. She added, however, that the reforms must be
implemented properly.
TEFFT

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